THE ECO-WEDDING IS BOTH OLD AND NEW. After all, the Boomers who wed in the 1960s and ’70s loved the notion of unconventional settings (such as a meadow or forest) and nontraditional vows: Barefoot brides and grooms eschewed phrases like “to obey” and instead read poetry or sang to one another.

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Fast-forward to the 21st century, where the green wedding is big business. A New York Times environmental reporter last year published “Green Weddings: Planning your eco-friendly celebration”, advising sustainably-minded brides on topics such as the venue, gifts, the gown, invitations, decor, reception, honeymoon and how to calculate the carbon footprint of one’s guests.

Thinking that sustainable weddings were oh-so-contemporary, I was delighted recently to find a 1996 paperback book on the shelf of my local library entitled “Green Weddings That Don’t Cost the Earth”, by Carol Reed-Jones. Reed-Jones wrote this tiny volume out of frustration with not being able to find ideas and information for her own eco-themed nuptials. She shares detailed instructions for making many items by hand, such as bouquets, favors and natural wedding cakes, and offers suggestions for recycling and reusing leftovers.

Reed-Jones wrote, for example: “Use organically grown, local flowers in season or grow your own. Locally-grown flowers don’t need much transportation to get to you. Out of season flowers will have to be transported long distances, contributing to pollution (and costing a small fortune).”

To every locavore bride and groom who take public transportation to their reception (like my friends Britt and Bryon did when they rode Portland’s MAX light rail from church to banquet hall) and celebrates the regional harvest of food, wine and flowers, I say:

Congratulations. You’re making a green statement that brings friends and family members along for the experience, while not being pushy or preachy.

ONE RITUAL OF CHILDHOOD that is as loved by kids as it is detested by parents is The Sleepover.

One child spending the night at a friend’s home always sounds great at the outset. There is temporary parental joy when it’s your child who is sleeping away and you get a night of peace and quiet with your spouse. But the joy turns to misery the next day when your child returns beyond cranky, because he or she stayed up too late and/or got up too early. Not to mention the breakfast of donuts or pancakes that results in a major sugar crash … just about the time they return home. We call it The Sleepover Hangover, and the only remedy for it is a very early bedtime.

Recently my 10-year-old daughter Priya and I came up with an idea that would be as fun as the sleepover but void of the hangover. We called it The After-Sleep Party: She invited five friends to come over on a Saturday morning by 8:30. Dress code: Pajamas. Once they all arrived, each made her own mug of hot cocoa.

For the meal, the girls sat at an elaborately decorated table and started with a course of mixed berries, and OJ in champagne flutes. Bacon and pancakes, made in advance, were kept warm in the oven. For the second course, we set up a toppings bar – chocolate chips, fruit, syrup, whipped cream – and the girls made pancake masterpieces.

After breakfast came a dance party, including singing, gymnastics and musical chairs.

Pick-up was at noon, and the girls left thanking us for an enjoyable morning.

It would have been a total success, except for the one girl who asked, on her way, out: “Can Priya sleep over tonight?”

LIKE AN URBAN FLORIST who relies on one type and color of flower grouped en masse, keep it simple when friends stop by and showcase one fabulous ingredient on a plate, platter or in a bowl. In addition to creating a gorgeously simple tableau, you’re also revering the ingredient and celebrating its unique flavor and beauty.

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Some Sophisticated Plates to consider for nibbling:

• Shave fresh curls of parmesan (bring the cheese close to room temperature to make it easy) and put them on a pretty white plate or pedestal for noshing. This is pretty, ethereal, salty and light.
• Spring’s first produce offers a bounty of gorgeously delicious options.  Those first tiny red radishes offer a striking look along with a peppery, bold punch. Pair with two tiny bowls: one with sea salt and one with soft butter, for dipping.
• Artisanal breadsticks or flatbread crackers are so delicious. Fold into parchment on a buffet or serve upright in simple glassware. Crunch.

THAT EASTER BUNNY HAS GOTTEN PRETTY CLEVER. After realizing that last year’s Easter candy was still in the cupboard, she knew there had to be a better way to fill all those plastic eggs and still please the kiddos. So, herewith, is the EB’s Top 10 list of non-edible treats.

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1. Money Talks: Doesn’t matter if you do pennies, quarters or the occasional dollar bill. Make the hunt a profitable venture that gives the piggy bank some playing time, too.
2. Mommy/Daddy Coupons: Use your computer to create coupons that give your child an opportunity for some special time with Mom or Dad. “This coupon entitles [CHILD] to an ice-cream treat with Mommy.”
3. All Tied Up: Decorative shoelaces are fun for kicks of all sizes. We love the selection here.
4. Get Silly: What kids doesn’t dig Silly Putty? (And it’s even more fun when you consider you’d find an egg within an egg.)
5. Hair Raising: Hair ties, clips or headbands are always needed and appreciated by the girlie girl in the fam.
6. Nature Rocks: Think of polished stones or seashells as treasures from nature.
7. Paper Chase: Everyone loves to be complimented. On slips of paper, write down virtues your child displays in certain situations: “[Child] shows the virtue of generosity when she shares toys with her little brother.”
8. Stuck on You: Stickers or temporary tattoos provide hours of fun.
9. You’ve Got a Friend: Friendship bracelets can be worn by girls and boys and are the ultimate sign of loyalty.
10. Life’s a Party: Fill an egg with sparkly confetti and watch the fun as the eggs are opened.

THE CONVENTIONAL KID’S BIRTHDAY PARTY can produce mountains of waste. From the piles of disposable cups and plates to the excess of toys kids receive (but don’t really need) to the themed paper decorations that are thrown away, it’s enough to make any eco-conscious parent cringe.

SOURCE: GREENPARTYGOODS.COM

But with a bit of ingenuity, throwing a Green Birthday Party is fairly easy to do. Enlist your Kiddo’s help and it can be a fun, rewarding experience.

Start by breaking down your party into categories. Then focus on how to make each aspect as eco-friendly as possible. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Invitations: Electronic is the way to go — it’s faster, and easier for people to reply. Plus, today’s wired moms appreciate an email or text reminder of the event. Use free sites such as Evite, MyPunchbowl or Purple Trail, and let your child help with creating the design.

Themes and gifts: Instead of going with Disney’s flavor-of-the-month, think outside the box. Does your kid love puppies? Make dog-bone shaped cookies for snacks and asks guests to bring, in lieu of gifts, donations such as dog food, water bowls and leashes, which you can donate to a local animal shelter. You could ask for a monetary donation, something minimal such as $5 or $10. On the invitation, explain that half of the proceeds will go to a specific cause, the other half used by the birthday child to buy one large gift of his or her choice. Echoage can help you organize a charity-themed party.

Decorations: Consider Green Party Goods, which has a beautiful selection of eco-friendly party hats, banners and garlands, as well as tableware. Oh, and what’s a party without balloons? Forget Mylar; choose latex balloons, which are 100-percent biodegradable!

MARCH 20 IS A MAGICAL DAY: It’s both the Spring Equinox and my son’s birthday. I take pleasure in the fact that his birth coincided with spring’s arrival. It feels symbolic and life-affirming, especially for a mother whose creative expression occurs in and around the garden (his older brother was born on Summer’s Solstice, so I guess you could say I’m twice-blessed).

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How do you celebrate the season’s turning?

Traditional practices are often linked to Pagan cultures. But I don’t think that’s the only way to define the Equinox. It can also be a spiritual time of new beginnings and personal growth.

I approach spring with a sacred sense of awe. I figure if I can’t climb a mountain peak or cross an ocean, at least I’ll experience the sensory presence of Nature (the sights, sounds, textures and fragrances) in my garden. This means being quiet and observant. I look for signs that the earth is waking up after a long, dormant period. My heart flutters with joy as I catch a glimpse of a hummingbird, darting from one blossom to the next in search of nectar.

I am equally charmed by a perennial bursting from the soil, reaching for the warm sun (I can’t recall ever planting it in the first place, which adds to my surprise). And the display of purple foliage or golden grass, glowing as the afternoon sun moves behind it, takes my breath away.

Anyone who has a patch of earth to call her own should appreciate the cherished ritual of springtime. The garden has a lot to teach us. Plant a seed. Provide it water, sun and fertilizer. Pull out a few weeds. Watch as the cycle begins anew. The very act of gardening is a statement of hope.

OH, HOW DINNER PARTIES CHANGE once kids come into the picture. (For the better. Really.)

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Used to be: Interesting guests, elaborate menu, flowing wine and great music filling the air.

These days: Still great people, food and wine. But the background noise now also includes the shrieks of multiples of kids running around.

From the time my children were toddlers, I realized the key to a successful, family-style dinner party was to engage the kids with enough distractions so that when adult dinnertime came around, they would be content to disappear for a movie. This strategy still works today, with my kids now 10 and 7. In fact, they so enjoy family dinner parties that they’re eager to help me prepare.

Set a table just for them: Keep a card table accessible and set it up in an adjacent room. Cover it with craft paper and fill cups with markers for dinner-time doodling. (My daughter draws place mats on the paper, along with place cards for each child.)

Organize a pre-dinner activity: Set up a board game, organize an outdoor obstacle course or plan an in-house scavenger hunt to keep kids occupied during adult cocktail and app hour.

Keep the meal simple: Parents don’t expect you to feed filet mignon at the kids table. One easy idea is a pasta bar: Set out bowls of toppings — meatballs, cheese, green peas, tomatoes — along with piping hot noodles and let the kids make their own pasta masterpieces.

Plan a post-dinner dance party: It’s OK to banish the kids to another room during adult dinner time. But after dessert, turn up the tunes for a family-friendly dancefest. (Make sure the Pointer Sisters’ “We Are Family” is on your playlist — the Little Ones will love it.)

FOR ME, MY FAMILY AND MY BUSINESS, it’s all about St Patrick’s Day. Since I was a little girl and would accompany my Murphy mom and Spellman dad to the local St Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Soda Bread Baking Contest, March 17 has been a day to look forward to all year.

As a college student I tested my first culinary wings by having friends over for corned beef and a home-cooked meal each year. The celebration was always topped by trying to pour a perfect “black and tan” (alas, my years of effort haven’t netted a beauty yet, and my recent search on Wikipedia showed it to be a decidedly non-authentic-Irish drink, after all) and play the best records, cassette tapes and CDs from favorite Irish talent.

Years passed and the 17th morphed into an annual pilgrimage by taxi to a local Irish bar for fresh pours and great live music and dancing.  And when, 15 years ago, I officially became my own boss, one of the first dates I marked off on my calendar was March 17: BUSY. No work, lots of play — all fun. Now? As a mom and wife I love celebrating the heritage I’m proud of, the art and music I adore, and the kind of homey food that brings everyone together as family.

Look back. What’s your culture, heritage or passion prescribe? Then go ahead and pick it — your own annual holiday. Put it on your Outlook now and don’t waver. Happy holidays!